Fletching jig



- May 30, 1967 FLETCHING JIG Filed Aug. 17, 1964 Edwin J. Sisty INVENTOR E. J. SISTY I 3,322,421

United States Patent 3,322,421 FLETCHING JIG Edwin J. Sisty, 400 E. 50th St., New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed Aug. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 390,129 Claims. (Cl. 269-38) This invention generally relates to fletching jigs and more particularly to a fletching jig for use in the making of arrows when feathers are applied to arrow shafts.

An object of the invention is to provide a fletching jig which is simple in construction, easy to use, well adapted for its intended purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fletching jig with novel means for the indexing of arrow shafts for the purpose of placing feathers thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fletching jig with simple means to admit arrow shafts of varying diameters, holding them firmly without vertical or horizontal movement.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming -a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows in side elevation, a fletching jig with devices constructed in accordance with the invention, having therein an arrowshaft and thereon a feather.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective showing more clearly the devices of the invention.

FIGURES 3a and 311 show in downview two arrow shafts and two methods of fletching thereon.

FIGURES 4a, 4b, and 40 show in rear view the operation of the fletching jig by means of the rotation of an indexing cylinder.

In carrying out the invention, referring now specifically to the drawing, there is an indexing cylinder 1, with indexing markings 4, 4', and 4" visible on its rear or sides or both and which has press-fitted in center hole 14 of the indexing cylinder 1 so as to become an integral part of it, a standard, inexpensive arrow nock 3 of the common type used on arrows and having a standard tapered hole 2 which admits into it an arrow shaft 6 prepared with standard taper 5 which is the same taper as in arrow nock 3. Another means of obtaining this tapered hole 2 and arrow shaft taper 5 relationship is to cause a tapered hole 2 to be made directly in the indexing cylinder 1.

The forepart of arrow shaft 6 is supported in the arrow shaft holding grooves 8 under sufficient tension of arrow shaft hold-ing clamp 7 which is attached to the stationary jig plate 10 and which in turn is attached to the indexing cylinder 1, permitting the arrow shaft holding clamp 7 to rotate around arrow shaft 6 when the indexing cylinder is rotated.

In FIGURE 1 the independent feather plate 9 is held in position by clamp 13 against side of feather 11 and stationary jig plate 10 and rests on rib of feather 12 which in turn rests on arrow shaft 6.

FIGURE 2 is shown with the independent feather plate 9, feather 11, and clamp 13 removed to show more clearly the indexing cylinder 1, with side indexing markings 4, and the arrow shaft 6 with its taper 5, and showing stationary jig plate 10 attached to indexing cylinder 1, and to one side of the arrow shaft holding clamp 7 which is shown in open position, with arrow shaft 6 being admitted into arrow shaft grooves 8. Offsetting plate 15 is shown and is separate from fletching jig, being used to offset feathers on arrow shaft when such offsetting is desired.

FIGURE 30 shows the placement of feather 11 mounted straight on arrow shaft 6, while FIGURE 3b shows the placement of feather 11 mounted offset on arr-ow shaft 6.

FIGURES 4a, 4b, and 40 show the operation of the indexing cylinder 1 and its function in the placement of three feathers: 11a, 11b, and 11c with illustration of FIG- URE 4a showing feather 11a in position against stationary jig plate 10 and is in line directly with indexing marking 4. Illustration of FIGURE 4b shows indexing cylinder 1 being rotated in the direction away from feather 11a so that indexing marking 4' is in line directly with feather 11a, positioning fletching jig for placement of second feather 11b against stationary jig plate 10. Illustration of FIGURE 40 shows indexing cylinder 1 being rotated in the direction away from feather 11b so that indexing marking 4' is in line directly with feather 11b, positioning fletching jig for placement of third feather against stationary jig plate 10.

'In the operation of the device an arrow shaft 6 that has 'been prepared with a standard taper 5, is placed in the fletching jig by opening clamp 7 and inserting arrow shaft 6 in the arrow shaft grooves 8 and is slid forward to engage the taper 2 in the indexing cylinder 1. The arrow shaft 6 may be positioned in the fletching jig with any part of its surface laying under the stationary jig plate 10. First feather 11a is placed against stationary jig plate 10 and independent feather plate 9 is placed against said feather and brought downward until feather rib 12, to which glue has been previously applied to its under surface, rests on arrow shaft 6. Jig clamp 13, or clamps of equivalent strength is or are applied, holding feather plate 9 and feather 11a together against stationary jig plate 10 to sustain pressure on feather rib 12 resting on arrow shaft 6. Second feather 11b is glued, positioned and clamped to arrow shaft 6 in aforementioned manner after the fletching jig is rotated in the direction away from feather 11a so that marking 4' is in line directly with feather 11a. Third feather 110 is glued, positioned and clamped to arrow shaft 6 in aforementioned manner after fletching jig is rotated in the direction away from feather 11b so that marking 4' is in line directly with feather 11b. In the offsetting of a feather 11, such as in FIGURE 3b, the offsetting plate 15, which may be of a thin material such as ordinary cardboard, is placed between the arrow shaft 6 and the stationary side of the arrow holding clamp 7, the thickness of offsetting plate 15 determining the degree of offset. It will be noted that what has been herein described is the placement of three feathers as in the popular three feather fletching. Any number of feathers may be fletched in identical manner by changing the degree and placement of the indexing markings 4, 4', and 4 on the indexing cylinder 1. It will also 'be noted that the drawing demonstrates what is known as a left wing fletching and that a right wing fletching may be accomplished by placing the stationary jig plate 10 to the right of indexing marking 4, and the opposite end of the stationary jig plate 10 to the opposite side of the arrow holding clamp 7.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fletching jig comprising in combination an indexing cylinder with attached stationary jig plate and shaft holding clamp, said fletching jig having means to admit and support all diameter arrow shafts for the indexing O and positioning of feathers on said arrow shaft, and an offsetting plate positionable between the arrow shaft and holding clamp for offsetting of said feathers on said arrow shafts.

2. A fietching jig as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylinder has in it so as to be an integral part, a standard tapered hole that admits all diameter arrow shafts having a like standard taper and causing them to be held without horizontal or vertical movement, and permitting said arrow shafts to be used as a central axis on which said fietching jig rotates.

3. A fietching jig as set forth in claim 2, wherein said indexing cylinder has indexing markings visible on its surfaces in such a manner that when one feather is positioned on said arrow shaft and said indexing cylinder is rotated in the direction away from said feather that these indexing markings are used as a reference line for the positioning of the remainder of said feathers on said arrow shaft.

4. A fietching jig as set forth in claim 3, wherein the arrow holding clamp has means and grooves for the support of an arrow shaft of any diameter which permits said arrow holding clamp to rotate around said shaft when the indexing cylinder is rotated.

5. A fletching jig as set forth in claim 4, wherein said stationary jig plate is offset to the left, if for a left wing fletching, or to the right, if for a right wing fietching, of a vertical indexing marking on said indexing cylinder, thus compensating for the thickness of the feather and centering said feather with the said vertical indexing marking.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLETCHING JIG COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN INDEXING CYLINDER WITH ATTACHED STATIONARY JIG PLATE AND SHAFT HOLDING CLAMP, SAID FLETCHING JIG HAVING MEANS TO ADMIT AND SUPPORT ALL DIAMETER ARROW SHAFTS FOR THE INDEXING AND POSITIONING OF FEATHERS ON SAID ARROW SHAFT, AND AN OFFSETTING PLATE POSITIONABLE BETWEEN THE ARROW SHAFT AND HOLDING CLAMP FOR OFFSETTING OF SAID FEATHERS ON SAID ARROW SHAFTS. 